Riding the White Pass and Yukon Railroad: A Scenic Adventure
Posted in Family Fun, Scenery, Travel | By Guest Author | Tags: Alaska, Historic, Railroad Travel, Tours, Travel
Guest Author Peggy Bradshaw
When Gold was discovered in the Klondike in 1896 and a ton of gold arrived in Seattle in 1897, the gold rush was on! Everyone rushed to the goldfields through Chilkoot Pass. It was six hundred miles over treacherous and dangerous trails and waterways. Another trail was developed through White Pass and this became the route of the White Pass and Yukon Railroad.
White Pass and Yukon Railroad on its Climb to the Klondike Photo by George Bradshaw
The White Pass & Yukon route climbs from sea level in Skagway to almost 3,000 feet at the Summit in just about 20 miles and features steep grades of almost 3.9%. The tight curves of the White Pass called for a narrow gauge – a ten foot wide road bed with the rails three feet apart. Construction began in the spring of 1898, reached the Summit in February of 1899, and was completed in 1900. The railroad is 110 miles long, ending in Whitehorse, Yukon Territory, Canada. The railroad overcame great odds to be completed and was designated an International Historic Civil Engineering Landmark in 1994.
The scenic trip starts in Skagway and follows the route that the miners took to the goldfields of the Klondike, passing Gold Rush Cemetery, resting place for early Skagway residents; the Denver Glacier Trail, a favorite hike that leads to the base of the glacier; Brackett Road, an early toll road leading across White Pass; Bridal Veil Falls, a 6,000-foot waterfall originating from the glaciers; and Glacier Station, once a stop for thirsty steam engines on the uphill grade.
There are two tunnels on the route. The yawning chasm of Glacier Gorge disappears into Tunnel Mountain, 1,000 feet above the floor of the gulch. The second tunnel is 675 feet long and was built in 1969, and a new bridge was constructed to replace the old steel bridge. When constructed in 1901, the old steel bridge was the tallest cantilevered bridge in the world.
When the train leaves the tunnel, you can see remnants of the old Trail of ’98, a primary route from Skagway to the goldfields.
White Pass Summit is 2,865 feet above sea level and is located at the U.S. – Canadian Border. At Bennett, B.C., you leave the train and return to Skagway via a comfortable motor coach, with plenty of stops for photo opportunities.
The WP&YR not only operates for the benefit of the tourists who come to ride the adventurous railroad, but it also serves as a supply route for the remote towns in the Yukon. The railroad pioneered the use of container cars to move goods over the mountains and down to the sea. The White Pass spirit lives on today.
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Tags: Alaska, Historic, Railroad Travel, Tours, Travel